FACT: Customers go out of their way looking for companies who provide great customer service.

FACT: Some find it; some don’t.

It’s healthy to go over the good old common sense GOLD STANDARD customer service tips. The ones we all know, yet often get left behind. It’s not rocket science, it’s not brain surgery, it’s plain old common sense. But you and I know common sense is not that common.

Here are our BACK TO BASIC – GOLD STANDARD customer service tips, thoughts, ideas, skills and techniques. Short, sweet and to the point. Enjoy and share. The world needs it.

When was the last time you sent flowers or even a ‘note to say hello’ to someone “just because?” Powerful tip.

Drop a personal handwritten note to a client and say, “Thanks for being a good client,” or “good friend” or “thanks for being you.” NO sales pitch. A simple ‘thank you.’

“Hey, how are ‘ya?” is not a great way to start up a business conversation. In fact, it’s not any way to start up any conversation. Period. “Good to talk with you” is far more effective or “Nice to see you” and “Glad you’re here” are better.

Out with friends or family? Put the cell phones away. Talk for 30 minutes.

Email manners? Basically, the same as phone and in person. Spell check is imperative! But it doesn’t check your good grammar.

The old: “don’t tell ‘em what you can’t do; tell ‘em what you can do” applies to most, if not all, customer interactions. No one likes: “we can’t do that.”

Get excited! Enthusiasm is contagious. Start an epidemic. Make sure you say something fun, nice and appropriate in every conversation, on the phone or in person.

Oh, and smile. YES, that needed to be said twice. Telephone Doctor Motto: “A phony smile is better than a real frown.”

Start with these tips, skills, ideas and techniques, and you’ll notice a big difference in how your customers respond.

Share away. Thank you.

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Nancy Friedman, customer service keynote speaker, is president of Telephone Doctor Customer Service Training and a featured speaker at franchise, association, and corporate meetings around the world. A popular TV guest, she appeared on Oprah, The Today Show, CNN, FOX News, Good Morning America and CBS This Morning, as well as hundreds of other radio, television and print outlets around the world, including the Wall Street Journal, and USA Today. The author of 9 books on her chosen topics, Nancy helps corporate America improve their communications with their customers & co-workers. You can see her 9 books here.For more information, log on to Nancy Friedman's website www.nancyfriedman.com or call (314) 291-1012. Oh yeah you can email her at nancyf@telephonedoctor.com. Nancy is a recent recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Hall of Fame Award - St. Louis Small Business Monthly